San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-09-08
The Free press-A Business Talk.


We desire TO "talk business" for short
time with the patrons and friends of the
FREE Press. We doubt not they will be
glad to learn how the paper is getting along
In these ''troublous times" We doubt not
they will readily believe us when We state
that our business Is by no means ''boom-
ing" Just now. Such indeed Is the fact we
do not care to Geny or disguise Il. We will
not, as do some. claim that our prospects
are rose colored," "better than ever be-
fore" and all that, for this would be very
transparent species of lying. While we
have seen many hard and close years since
we have been In the business here, there
have been few, II any, worse than the pres
emit. Yet, in spite of this fact, and of no
little opposition from various quarters, the
FREE PRESS is pursuing the even tenor OF
its way, and expects to continue to do SO.
Since the paper has been for severaiyears
past so pronounced an advocate Of temper
ance, perhaps our readers would like to
learn what has been the effect OF that
course pecuniarily. Well, we are not aware
that II has affected us greatly, Sut we think
on the whole we have lost notnirs by it..
II has at least secured us the favor of the
best classes of people. Some may fancy
that we made some money out of the late
campaign. This is mistake. The small
amount of money that was expended for
papers was applied, with our approval, to
sending them in new circles. The FREE
PRESS was the recognized free horse" end
besides we contributed our share to local
expenses. While our work was much
harder, 1t was done without compensation,
or the hope of it, and we are satisfied on
that score.
But to return to more strictly business
considerations. The extremely hard times
have lost us the patronage of some of our
best friends from sheer inability to pay.
Such of course we cannot blame. If there
are any others on our list who really feel
themselves in the same category, we
trust they will frankly 30 inform s,for we as
frankly say that we cannot supply the paper
without pay. We have been as indulgent
as we could afford-more 20 in fact-but
we realize that if 1t is to be satisfactorily
continued, il must be on strictly business
principles. Until couple of years past,
our subscriptions have mostly been paid in
advance. Now the tendency is to wait till
near the end of the year, while some who
are able to pay owe for two years. We
wish to say that we cannot publish paper
on this plan. We want settlements OF the
past and prompt payments in the future
And right NOW is probably the best time to
make them, for there will be probably more
money in circulation for month or so than
there will be before year to come. We
shall therefore soon-probably next week
send out statements of accounts to our sub
scribers who owe, and must insist on settle.
ments of the same. After all, hard af
times are, there are but few who really de-
sire to take q newspaper but can manage to
raise the small amount required.
We not only want the sold Guard" OF
the FREE PRESS to continue to stand stead
ily by it, but to help us increase its list sc
as to make it better and better. The paper
will 90 on-of courses but great falling
off in its patronage would necessitate oul
making it a less presentable family visitor
We have thus far put much more labor and
expense on it than is common to its class
Hardly an article or paragraph appears in i
which is not thoughtfully weighed as to lit
tendency and effect Our aim is to make
each number better than that which pre-
ceded it, Not only so, but by the use O
smaller type we actually have more Gas wei
as better reading than many papers OF
larger size. A marked falling off in ou
patronage, as we have said, would compe
us to make our paper cheaper and inferio
article. This we should much regret, ant
therefore make bold to appeal to our friend
to stand by the FREE PRESS and enable u
to advance rather than lower its STANDARD
of excellence.
In business point of view we shall con
tinue to act on the square. We keep in nj
dead, sham, or quarter paid advertisement
merely to FILL up" or save appearances.
In conclusion, the FREE Press will con
tinue to stand by the rights aud interests o
the people generally, without fear or favor
| It asks for nothing beyond its just deserts
| Our Chautauqua.